The Various Applications of 3D Printers

3D printers are now beginning to see real value in the construction and manufacturing world. Not only that but they are seeing more applications within medical science and improving possible treatment methods. Thisadditive manufacturing allows people to synthesis 3D models of objects whether they are for design prototypes or finished products. As the diversity of 3D printers and 3D scanners for sale increases so their applications continue to expand. Some of the key uses of 3D printer technologies are as follows.

Automotive Industry

Part prototyping is becoming more extensively done through the use of 3D Printer Gear. It is a much more time-efficient way of checking that new designs will work and is greatly favoured in the large-scale manufacturing industries such as the manufacturing of automotives. Companies such as Ford have introduced it more frequently as it can speed up the design process. Methods which accelerate production rates are clearly favoured as this can decrease costs whilst increasing profits.

Aerospace Industry

Another manufacturing sector which makes use of 3D printing is the aerospace industry. As with the automotive industry it can see great benefit when developing prototype parts and has much of the same benefits. It reduces production time and costs and component issues can quickly be rectified at the design stage through the use of 3D printing technologies. Given the importance that parts work right and that safety standards are of paramount importance to the aerospace industries any technology which can aid with this is always going to be seen in a favourable light. NASA are using 3D printers more in the design and production stages. They also want to place a 3D printer station in space so that they do not need to take spare parts along with them but rather can print new ones as and when they are needed.

Replacement Body Organs

Organ printing is a means to create replacement organs so that they can used for transplants. Sourcing replacement organs can often prove very difficult and even when they are found they will sometimes be rejected by the host body. Through organ printing, replacement hearts, kidneys etc. can be manufactured and obviously this can lead to the difference between whether someone lives or dies. Complicated shapes such as segments of a human skull can be reproduced and biological tissue printed out from modified 3D printers allow surgeons to increase the number of patients which they can treat.

Prosthetics

Similarly to printing replacement organs, 3D printing technologies can be used to create replacement prosthetic limbs. This can allow people born with missing limbs or those who have had to experience amputation or the loss of a body part through an accident to have a replacement created for them. Whilst some older types of prosthetics can be quite cumbersome and unsightly, newer 3D printed prosthetics can also improve the morale of patients as they are less unattractive whilst maintaining the practical needs of the patients.